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[This "ground" is curiously mentioned in VIII. § 2, but it does

not figure among the Nine Situations or the Six Calamities in

chap. X. One's first impulse would be to translate it distant

ground," but this, if we can trust the commentators, is precisely

what is not meant here. Mei Yao-ch'en says it is "a position not

far enough advanced to be called 'facile,' and not near enough to

home to be 'dispersive,' but something between the two." Wang Hsi

says: "It is ground separated from home by an interjacent state,

whose territory we have had to cross in order to reach it. Hence,

it is incumbent on us to settle our business there quickly." He

adds that this position is of rare occurrence, which is the

reason why it is not included among the Nine Situations.]

When there are means of communication on all four sides, the

ground is one of intersecting highways.

44. When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is serious

ground. When you penetrate but a little way, it is facile ground.